hiking

NE borders)

Published May 4, 2013

Roggen to Fort Morgan, CR-127 to CR-104, then CR-110 thru Pawnee National Grassland to Pawnee Buttes trailhead.

Any of this sound familiar? Nope. Drove to the ends of the earth today — 13 miles south of Nebraska, 16 miles to Wyoming. Not only my first Colorado ‘Plains’ hike but my first time on a dirt road for 14 solid miles. Internet research recommended we travel with a full tank of gas – COOOOORRECT! Only visible signs of life I saw were drill wells & 3 Pronghorn antelope.

My friend Stephen travelled in from New Hampshire for a quick weekend visit – but what to do with only 2 days? Luckily, John had sent out an email on Tuesday inviting those available to join him & son Nate on a hike to Pawnee Buttes. PERFECT!

And Ro? Couldn’t have been happier – off leash & free to explore with Annmarie’s Jack Russell, Karma.

Temps in the 50’s & sunshine – beautiful day hike. Internet research warned this hike was prone to rattlesnakes & a scorcher in the summer (no trees). Mighty happy to bang out [this hike] while temps were comfortable & small pockets of snow still show.

Deviated off trail, opting to follow canyon ravines carved around both prominent buttes. Rock climbing was not an option today – these formations consisted of only sandstone & clay. Kinda like giant mud patties left baking in the sun for centuries.

Traversing around the opposite end of West Pawnee Butte, caught some amazing views while trekking above the gorge wall. Posted multiple ‘WOW’ shots — both John & Nate mugged from some sheer crazy drop-offs.

I attempted to scale West Pawnee Butte – made it up maybe 15 feet max. Had to stay loose & light – and NOT grip too tightly or the clay climbing wall would literally crush in my hands. Going up, no worries. However, climbed down blind. Hard to get a foothold without breaking clay. Whatta AWESOME life experience! Check, done 🙂

Drove State Highway 14 to Fort Collins on the return (rural but paved), stopping to eat burgers at Coopersmiths in Old Town before verving off on our respective trips home. FUN end to a crazy FUN day!

: 14 miles of dirt on CR-127, CR-104 & CR-110 (yep, middle of nowhere)

: first Colorado ‘Plains’ hike (13 miles south of Nebraska, 16 miles to Wyoming)

: the Pawnee Buttes (wind turbines in far background)

: yucca & cactus (this ain’t the Rockies)

: Nate, John, Annmarie & Stephen

: following the canyon ravine

: taking it all in – John, Nate & Annmarie

: Overlook escarpment

: West Pawnee Butte

: East Pawnee Butte

: Lips Bluff

: off leash RUN

: 50 degrees & sun – but Ro still finds SNOW

: rock climbing? nope – this is CLAY

: Ro & Karma

: tricky trek above gorge

: no worries for Ro

: WOW pic – John

: WOW pic – Nate

: climbing West Pawnee Butte

: AWESOME day hike – check out that smile!

winter ascent: Quandary Peak (14,265ft)

Published April 27, 2013

Skydiving, a half-marathon run 8 days later — how do I match my past 2 weekend activities? How ‘bout climb a 14er? Wait, I’ve done that. How ‘bout climb a 14er in winter? Yeah, that’ll work.

Joined a new hiking team called HardKore Hiking & set my alarm at 3:45am Saturday morning for a trailhead meet-up at Quandary Peak, just south of Breckinridge (2 ¼ hours way).

Because of xtreme high altitude conditions, Ro spent Friday nite & Saturday day at Camp Bow Wow. Xtreme? Heavy mountain snow, moderate to high avalanche warning & summit wind chills at or below zero. Just your average Saturday in Colorado 🙂

Missed the camaraderie of my friends John & Annmarie, but realize they also have other lives, so today was about forging new friendships – AND climbing a 14er in winter!

Crampons, poles, snowshoes, extra layers (shirt & socks), goggles, food supplies, sunblock & bottled water (Camelbak lines freeze in these conditions – yeah, even with insulator coverings). Check, done, ready to go. 2 ladies dropped off pace fast, said our goodbyes – now we were 7 (one ‘no show’ – originally supposed to summit with 10).

After tree line, found ourselves hiking as two separate groups of 4 & 3. Maintained position most of our climb to the false summit at 13,200ft. New Hampshire marathoner Alex summited first – kicked Brandon, (Minnesota) Matt & my butts. Quick pace, super efficient stride.

15-minute water & rest break at the false summit – studied the peak ahead. No visible trails today, so our choice was GPS or ski mark remnants of backcountry skiers past.

Alex started to chill so once again, she took the lead. Not that this was a competition, but as one of 2 older guys and newbie to the group – didn’t want to lag behind. Lucky for me, hills are my friend. Don’t get me wrong, I think the same way everyone else does, but I dig in mentally & can maintain a strong steady pace uphill.

Found myself out front for much of the climb but jeez my lungs were burning. Brandon caught & passed me with a ¼ mile to go. ARGH! 5 minutes back I summit 2^nd. Last summer, Quandary was my least favourite of six 14ers Ro & I completed. This day however Quandary soared #1; the Rockies in winter are AMAAAZZZING!

SUCCESS! Wisconsin pharm researcher Brandon dug a summit snow shelter as protection from the bitter wind. Matt & Ed joined 10 minutes later; our final 3 hikers (Krista, Alex & Stephen) summited another 10 minutes back.

What else makes this Team ‘HardKore’? We summit parked for 30+ minutes & ate lunch. Windchill below zero. Crazy!

A majority of folks packed sleds to enjoy a quick ride down. I took the opportunity to trail run down the mountain, using poles as rudders to steady my pace & balance.

An hour half back to treeline, found myself all alone so caught a 20 minute nap on the snowpack.

High altitude, snow & sunshine – BEST combination, FAAANNNNTASTIC day!

WATCH my YouTube video ‘Quandary Peak 14,265ft’

: early start – left home at 430am for trailhead meetup w/ HardKore Hiking

: Saturday morning Colorado sunrise

: no visible trail this hike, only GPS & marks left by backcountry skiers past

: hmmm…which way to go – UP, of course!

: Matt & Krista

: I took the early lead (yep, super competitive)

: NH marathoner Alex – first to the false summit at 13,200ft

: final long climb to the summit

: yep, I’m looking down on everyone – catch me!

: quarter-mile more to go – UP!

: oh no, my lungs are burning & Brandon is coming up fast

: …and I’m now 2nd (still respectable..LOL)

: SUMMIT SUCCESS!

: today’s WOW shot – whatta view!

: sweat, iced brows – AND the hint of a smile 🙂

: Brandon (1st to summit) building a snow shelter from the bitter wind

: below zero wind chill (yeah, May 1st is Wednesday)

: Alex, Krista & Steven approaching the summit

: summit man cave

: lunch (& a flask) at 14,265ft

: HardKore Hiking group pic

: post-lunch photo op (bigger smile, without the sweat)

: quick hour-half trail run DOWN to treeline (Kilian Jornet inspired)

: not the only one trailrunning today

: Ptarmigan

: today’s stats – FAAANNNNTASTIC day!

Posted in 14ers/13ers | Tagged hiking, snowpocalypse, wildlife | Leave a comment

group DOG hike: Royal Arch (Boulder)

Published April 20, 2013

More than a foot of snow over Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday…again. What to do on the weekend when your dog has cabin fever? HIKE. And even better – how ‘bout a group DOG hike? 🙂

Friends John & Annmarie joined Lisa & me (our new Louisville-based member) for a Saturday morning group hike leaving from NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) in Boulder. This was not just a group hike – it was a group DOG hike. Joining Ro today was Fred, Penny & Karma. Within 10 minutes on Mesa Trail, I was effectively guilted into ditching Ro’s leash – and boy did he have a BLAST! Initially, he looked confused – ‘Dad, my leash is off” – but then ran wildly in circles, leaping through snow & chasing Penny (the dog closest his age – both a year-half old). Snow, water, mud – first with our pack, then Ro’d get confused and join other hikers’ dogs ‘til I’d call out to rejoin his posse.

A mile half to Chautauqua & Karma (Annmarie’s Jack Russell) was shivering uncontrollably. Her little body was no match for the deep snow on today’s trail. Annmarie & Lisa headed back to NCAR while John & I forged ahead to Royal Arch.

(NOTE: We all discussed first. I jumped out of a plane with Annmarie 7 days ago, gonna road trip together to Yosemite. Desert her on a local day hike? Come ‘on, get serious. Just calling it out.)

The trail UP deteriorated quickly — snow & ice slowed our pace. That said, what a great Colorado workout! And all happening the day before my 2^nd half marathon – FAAANNNTASTIC!

Took a few minutes to enjoy the summit view overlooking Boulder. Chatted it up with 4 other hikers, all with Northeast ties. Boston was today’s common theme – my Red Sox cap spurring conversation around Monday’s marathon bombings. Trail ran down with Ro, inspired by my newest sports hero Kilian Jornet.

HIKING in Colorado — the ultimate weekend go-to activity in sun, snow or mud. LOVE LOVE this place!